Keep Pouch Camp forever wild, campaign urges

Alex Zablocki, at right, co-founder of the Committee to Save Pouch Camp, speaks to more than 40 people attending an open house event on the 143-acre site in Sea View.
(Staten Island Advance/Mark Stein)

With efforts to preserve the 143-acre paradise known as William H. Scout Pouch Camp under way for the last two-and-a-half years, the Committee to Save Pouch Camp, along with the Greenbelt Conservancy, hosted an open house event Sunday afternoon at the Sea View property.

More than 40 people attended the event, which began at Berlin Lodge and involved a tour of the beloved land. The property includes an archery site, man-made Lake Ohrbach, log cabins and trail space that have enabled folks for generations to forget they're anywhere near New York City.

While $5 million has been raised – enough to save 44 acres of the land, which includes the lake and surrounding waterfront – Pouch Camp is still in need of twice that amount of money.

The often-used, sizable piece of property in the center of the Greenbelt is the only Boy Scout camp in the city. It has been used by generations of members. In 2009, its owners, the Greater New York Councils (GNYC), Boy Scouts of America (BSA), warned it may have to sell.

A big breakthrough came in the spring, when the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey decided to contribute $4 million from its Harbor Estuary Program to the Trust for Public Land to help preserve Pouch. That, combined with $500,000 allocated by Borough President James Molinaro and $250,000 each from Councilmen Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore) and James Oddo (R-Mid-Island/Brooklyn), was enough to save Phase One of Pouch Camp with a conservation easement.

Money to spare Phases Two and Three (both 25 acres large) must be obtained by July 2013 and 2014, respectively.

"We know that government can't do it alone and there are a lot of people that want to help and give," said Alex Zablocki, co-founder of the Committee to Save Pouch Camp. "We want to raise money, but we want the masses to donate."

The open house event included a celebration of the overall effort made to preserve the site. It also involved an update on the current situation and the constant reminder that the fight has a long way to go, regardless of the recent good news.

"We're excited about the funding opportunities of Phase One," said Charles Rosser, Scout executive and chief executive officer of GNYC. "Phase Two is going to be different in flavor, and it's going to involve probably more state involvement, and hopefully with today's efforts, more individual donor efforts."

As families gathered inside the Berlin Lodge prior to the event's start, Rosser said it is great to see people come together to try and save such a wonderful treasure as Pouch Camp.

West Brighton resident Steven Wiatrak brought his two children, ages 7 and 5.

"I wanted to show them the uniqueness of this place and take them for a nice day out," he said, noting he hadn't visited the location since the late 1980s. "It's like a little retreat."

Longtime Pouch Camp visitor Jim Phelan of Eltingville has experienced the grounds for the last 35 years. He's also introduced his son and grandchildren to the site.

"The amazing thing about Pouch, especially for the kids, is they come in here and all the stuff outside (the noise) stops," he said. "When a child discovers they can spend 24 hours without a computer, iPad or iPhone, they actually find things that are fascinating out here."

Marc Matsil, New York State director for Trust for Public Land, said Pouch must be saved, not only for those who love it, but for the sake of the environment.

"If it were to be developed (with homes), it would promote some pretty significant nonpoint source pollution which basically flows into the Arthur Kill, which (the Port Authority) needs to keep clear," explained Matsil, commending the Port Authority.

"They've exercised immense vision in balancing commerce with community and ecological needs and values that also support a cleaner harbor," he said.

Said Phelan: "Pouch Camp is an absolute treasure. You could save it 10 times, but you can only lose it once. It's just priceless."

For more information on the campaign to save Pouch Camp, or how to donate toward the effort, visit www.savepouch.com.